Sheffield: Woodseats youth club gains £1.5m for upgrade

Double Six Youth Club in Woodseats will use the funding for outdoor sport facilities and building work

A youth club in Sheffield has secured more than £1.5m in funding to update the building and continue to support young people.

Double Six Youth Club, in Woodseats, successfully applied for the money from the Youth Investment Fund.

The money for the club, which dates back to 1966, will pay for refurbishments and sport facilities.

Club leader Richard Hay, who worked on the bid, said it will make a "huge difference" for families in the area.

A new mezzanine for the main hall will be built, along with an outdoor sports area for football, basketball and badminton, the club said.

A new roof will be installed, along with solar panels to generate its own electricity.

The club on Scarsdale Road was converted from a former church and opened in 1966

Louise Haigh, Sheffield Heeley MP, said the club had supported several generations of children growing up in the area.

"I've seen first hand the lasting impact [the club] has had on young people," she said.

"With this funding they have secured their future."

Celia Douglas, from the Bubble Six parent and toddler group, says the upgrade will be "incredible"

Celia Douglas, who helps to run the Bubble Six parent and toddler group at the venue, said: "Many other groups use the place as well, the funding will enable them just to be so much more.

"To have up-to-date facilities is going to be quite incredible, because the building needs quite a lot of tender loving care."

Ms Douglas said it was increasingly important for people to have a community hub where they can interact with others rather than being isolated at home.

The club hoped the work would be completed by March 2025.